Plate 79. BAUHINIA Galpinii. Transvaal.

Leguminosae. Tribe Bauhinieae.

Bauhinia, Linn.; Benth. et Hook. f. Gen. Plant. vol. i. p. 575.

Bauhinia Galpinii, N. E. Br. in Gard. Chron., 1891, p. 728; Hook. Ic. Pl. t. 19.

This handsome Bauhinia, known in the Transvaal as “The Pride of de Kaap,” is a common plant in the low veld east of the Drakensberg. It is a low half-climbing bush, and when in flower is a striking object in the veld, the bright red flowers standing out in sharp contrast to the surrounding vegetation. Specimens were first sent to Kew in 1880 by Mr. T. Nelson, and later Mr. E. E. Galpin sent material which he collected at Barberton. The plant lends itself to cultivation, and may be kept as a trimmed bush in lawns, etc. If left to grow unchecked it becomes very lanky. Our plate was prepared from a specimen growing in the garden of the Division of Botany, Pretoria, and the plant has grown to a height of about 30 ft. up a tree of Cupressus sempervirens, var. pyramidalis. In cultivation, at least in Pretoria, very few seeds are produced. Specimens are preserved in the National Herbarium, Pretoria (Herb. No. 1601).

Description:—A half-climbing shrub, growing to a height of 5-30 ft. Branches with light-brown bark, minutely pubescent. Leaves petioled; lamina 1-3 cm. long, 3-5·5 cm. broad, more or less reniform in outline, lobed above, subcordate at the base, with the veining distinct above and prominent beneath, glabrous; petioles 8-1·5 cm. long, convex beneath, channelled above. Stipules 3 mm. long, deciduous. Flowers in 3-7-flowered racemes opposite the leaves. Bracts and bracteoles 3 mm. long, setaceous, deciduous. Buds light brown, acuminate, pubescent. Calyx-tube, 2-2·7 cm. long; limb spathaceous, unilateral in open flowers. Petals long clawed; claws 2 cm. long, somewhat compressed; limb 1·7-2 cm. long, 1·5-1·7 cm. broad, ovate, apiculate, subcordate, at the base. Fertile stamens 4; filaments 2·5 cm. long, terete, bent inwards above; anthers 7 mm. long, linear. Staminodes 5 mm. long, setaceous, sometimes deeply 2-lobed. Ovary on a long gynophore 1·5 cm. long, silky pubescent; style 5 mm. long, stigma capitate. Fruit 12·5 cm. long, 2·5 cm. broad, with a double margin along one edge, oblanceolate, tipped with the persistent style, and narrowed at the base. Seeds 1·9 cm. long, oblong, flattened, dark brown.

Plate 79.—Fig. 1, surface view of flower to show staminodes, the limb of the petals removed; Fig. 2, pistil, showing long gynophore; Fig. 3, stamen; Figs. 4, 5, front and side views of calyx; Fig. 6, fruit.

F.P.S.A., 1922.

S. Gower del.